Producers
The Farmers Market of Cumberland County Local Food Initiative is funded to support and encourage producers and recruit more producers to set up as vendors at the Market. The more booths, the more buzz, the more customers.
Objective 2: The project will provide outreach to recruit more local producers to sell at the Farmers Market; and otherwise increase farm-to-table marketing opportunities.
The work plan (to-do-list) includes the following items in red.
Objective 2: The project will provide outreach to recruit more local producers to sell at the Farmers Market; and otherwise increase farm-to-table marketing opportunities.
The work plan (to-do-list) includes the following items in red.
Funded Activities
Using word of mouth, Facebook, email, texting, phone calls and snail mail, we have built a contact list of more than 60 local producers. Vendor applications filled out in 2015, before the grant, totaled 8. In 2016, 31 different producers set up as vendors, at least once. In 2017, 38 different producers set up to sell at least once. Generally we had 10 - 14 vendors at the Market on Saturdays, 2017. The word got out!
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Market Coordinator Kay Williams, Greg Williams, and Kim Muer of 4C Cattle went to the 2016 conference. Kim Muer went again in 2017. Learning about artisan meat production, both beef and chicken in chicken tractors, changed the course of Kim's farming career.
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Paul Bela and Robin Verson of Hill and Hollow Organic Farm in neighboring Metcalf County have distinguished themselves by being commercial organic farmers, supporting their family of 5 with no outside jobs since 1999. To serve the many producers in Cumberland County and nearby, Paul and Robin conducted several workshops, showing and sharing their farm and their methods. All in all, 43 individuals attended the 4 workshops: High Tunnel Growing, Getting Ready for Market Season, Lawn to Garden Workshop and Plant Propagation/ Fall Gardening Workshop.
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